Anti-Semitism at University of Toronto

Jew-counting, racism and intimidation in U of T's Social Work program.

Picture the following: A discussion in a post-graduate university class on the topic of Jews turns ugly. The professor is uncritical when one student says he doesn’t want to be around Jews. Another student complains about “rich Jews,” implying their excessive power. In a subsequent class, the same professor, as if to validate those points, says half her department faculty are Jews and with her approbation, students conduct a ‘Jew count’.

While this sounds like an episode in Germany leading up to the anti-Jewish Nuremberg Laws, it occurred more recently and much closer to home, at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Social Work. Now, more details are emerging under the exceptional circumstance of two U of T professors publicly criticizing a colleague for facilitating classroom anti-Semitism and the university administration’s inadequate response.

The controversy began when some visible minority students in a Social Work Master’s program at the University of Toronto expressed discomfort about being around “rich Jews,” in Professor Rupaleem Bhuyan’s class, regarding a proposed outing in 2009 to the Baycrest Centre, an internationally renowned Jewish geriatric and research facility. They were undoubtedly confident of a sympathetic ear from her. The previous year, Bhuyan denounced Israel as a satellite of the United States, unworthy of distinction as a separate country.

The few Jewish students in Bhuyan’s Master's Program class were intimidated into silence for much of the discussion by a classroom culture slanted against them. Finally, one young woman spoke up, protesting her grandparents had come to Canada with virtually nothing and she was proud her family could now afford the fees for them to reside at Baycrest.

That must have rung an alarm bell for Professor Bhuyan, because startlingly, she then admonished her students not to divulge what transpired in class to outsiders.

But her classroom was not Las Vegas and what happened there did not stay there. Some outraged Jewish students approached Professor Paula David, who in turn consulted senior professors Ernie Lightman and Adrienne Chambon.

“Students are in a vulnerable position and dread officially attaching their name to complaints against a professor in a program like Social Work,” said Lightman. “Aside from determining grades, they fear one bad word from a professor to a social agency can eliminate their employment prospects.”

In the face of such circumstances, Lightman assumed the voice of the Jewish students who endured the vitriol in Bhuyan’s class. He, with Chambon spoke to Faye Mishna, the Dean of Social Work about the incidents. A letter Lightman wrote to U of T President David Naylor about the matter also became public.

By way of response, Mishna, without specific reference to the incident or Bhuyan, sent out a pair of letters to the Social Work department generically condemning anti-Semitism.

Lightman believes the university’s response was absurd. “The department’s approach seemed to imply a widespread problem with anti-Semitism – which there wasn’t – and that everyone is potentially a racist when one professor promoted anti-Semitism and was never held publicly accountable.”

The Canadian Jewish Congress declined to participate in resulting seminars on anti-Semitism held for the Social Work Department. According to the CJC’s Bernie Farber, “We were not satisfied in the end with the entire process.”

Chambon, a Jewish professor who is Director of PhD programs in the Social Work department, was particularly pained by these events. Originally from France, she relates that “I am from Europe and of a generation with bad memories of the sinister results of Jew counts.” After hearing about the incident, Chambon arranged to meet with Bhuyan.

We have a responsibility to students to ensure faculty do not abuse the power inherent in their positions.

“I was flabbergasted” Chambon disclosed. “She told me ‘racialized’ students come from underprivileged backgrounds and were justified in not wanting to be around old Jews because they are rich and would make them uneasy. I couldn’t believe my ears. I took some paper and wrote down what she said in front of her. Bhuyan then said the donor plaques at the university were all from rich Jews, which she felt proved her point. Aside from being factually wrong, it reflects an attitude that polarizes groups and reinforces stereotypes that do not belong in the teaching of Social Work.”

Professor Bhuyan did not reply to a request to comment for this article and the University refused to add to Social Work Department Dean Mishna’s response that, “the Faculty took all steps to address the matter appropriately at the time of the incident and thereafter.”

Nothing could be more false in the opinion of Lightman, Chambon and others. While patiently waiting for the wheels of justice to grind slowly, they instead saw them go off the rails.

Bhuyan, an untenured Assistant Professor, who never offered a public apology for her behavior, was rewarded by the University with a contract renewal .

That development has frustrated a number of professors in a dysfunctional Social Work Department that remains divided in opposing camps. Lightman insists this matter must be exposed and wrote a recent article about it for The Journal for the Study of Anti-Semitism.

Lightman asserts, “It’s ironic that a department purporting to teach anti-racism is incapable of dealing with racism in its own house. We have a responsibility to students to ensure faculty do not abuse the power inherent in their positions, and to the community-at-large to ensure all the Social Workers it graduates reflect and promote the values of the field. That hasn’t happened here."

Ontario's Minister for Colleges and Universities is John Miloy. The Progressive Conservative Critic for that portfolio is Jim Wilson. Why not let them know what you think?

About the Author

Visitor Comments: 43

(40)
Anonymous,
November 16, 2013 9:17 PM

Racist U

As a Jew I can tell you I would never go (or stay) at an anti-Jewish institution. They should leave. Also, I'm a big guy. I would get physical with such racists who dared try to intimidate me. I would let the chips fall where they may. Someone has to stand up to these savages. They would never dare make anti black remarks in front of blacks.

(39)
Norm Starr,
November 12, 2013 9:49 PM

Professor Rupaleem Bhuyan

Professor Rupaleem Bhuyan has no place at U of T or any other place of learning in Canada

(38)
sidney anolik,
July 26, 2011 7:38 PM

Disgrace of the university of toronto

A racist and a anti Semite are both cut from the same cloth

(37)
Marcia Crawford,
July 22, 2011 2:23 PM

unsuitable material for teaching sensitive young minds

Shocked after all these years this type of anti jewish speech would start again in place of higher learning.
It is good there are people who will stand up and be counted again.

(36)
Morton Katz,
July 18, 2011 7:42 PM

Anti-Semitism at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Social Work

Subject: Anti-Semitism at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Social Work
“She (Professor Bhuyan ) told me (Professor Chambon) ‘racialized’ students come from underprivileged backgrounds and were justified in not wanting to be around old Jews because they are rich and would make them uneasy. ….“Bhuyan then said the donor plaques at the university were all from rich Jews, which she felt proved her point.”
There is blatant absurdity in that last comment, in addition, to its attendant irony. If the donor plaques were, in fact, all from rich Jews, these “racialized students” that “come from underprivileged backgrounds” are students at the U of T precisely because of the beneficence of these “rich Jews”.
So much for the deductive reasoning of anti-Semitic master’s students and their professor, Bhuyan.
In the field of Social Work, a discipline which requires sensitivity, compassion, and understanding, the Faculty, the University of Toronto and its President have been disgraced by their insensitivity, lack of compassion, and by any standard, failing to comprehend the implications of their spineless response.
What would have been the administration’s reaction if any student or professor had made similar comments concerning Muslims or Afro-Canadians?
Shame.
Morton Katz

Melissa,
November 13, 2014 5:41 PM

Bravo, Morton!!

Well said. I am a U of T grad, (not the SW dept.) and i agree with your analysis 100%. The continued spinelessness of the admin depts. of several prominent Cdn universities is inexusable. I'm just sorry that we're not a full response from other profs in other depts. ... as a graduate in Comparative Literature i would be surprised if there weren't reverbs around campus from Internat'l Relations, as well. Frightening, because when students view profs who speak out for what we called 'personal agency', not just 'social justice', ... but just old fashioned 'getting your two cents in', then ... we learn we can all make a better world. Yes, to a certain extent, people ARE their principles, and this conflict shows very dubious ethics on campus.

(35)
Shaul GM,
July 16, 2011 10:50 PM

Total disgrace

It's so common to see that racism agains Jews is always tolerated and even excused.
This episode should be broadcasted amongst the Jewish supporters of the university and have the professor explain to them her behaviour, of which she seems to be very proud.

(34)
Bill Vanderhoof,
July 16, 2011 9:08 PM

New Anti Semitism?

Sorry folks it is not New at all, it is the same old Anti Semitism wrapped up in a cover. It is not restructed to college campuses or to Jews specifically. There were recent stories about another major university in the states that expelled a PHD student from her program in social work because she was a Christian and refused to change. If you differ from the professor's orthodoxy your grades will reflect that fact. So much for intellectual objectivity.

(33)
Jane,
July 15, 2011 9:25 PM

This Ticks Me Off.....Social Workers Indeed

I have seen some of the worst human behavior in Human Services, as have others who have told me of similar experiences. It is like they think they don't have to live by the very values they are being taught and expect to teach others. And, universities have dumbed down over the last 30 years to include those at the bottom of the ranks (grades). There are graduates aplenty who have a very poor command of the English language, people who get through college as groups, rather than individiuals. "No one left behind" applies to universities now, not just grade schools. You give people like that a little knowledge and they are dangerous. You need to be truly open minded, tolerant, compassionate, and wise to be a good Social Worker/Human Services Worker.

(32)
alan feins,
July 14, 2011 10:38 PM

I do not know who is more wrong the professor or her bosses.

There is no question in my mind she should be fired and maybe she broke laws as well not sure in Canada.I think whoever decided to renew her contract should be fired as well and should have problems finding that kind of job in a free country.

(31)
David U. B.,
July 14, 2011 2:18 PM

New times

Times are-o-changing. BUT the NEW anti-Semitism in Canada, the US and Western Europe is often liberal left-wing, or Muslim.

(30)
lionel,
July 14, 2011 12:10 PM

Bhuyan must be fired

This professor must go----her class should be boycotted and she must be made to pay for her racism. It cannot be allowed

(29)
nell,
July 14, 2011 2:04 AM

There are many rich people in the world. Why choose on Jews to stay away from?? This attitude does not belong to Social Workers and they must change it if they are going to care for all children of all backgrounds. The professor must be called to answer for his/her behaviour exhibited in this article!!

(28)
Anonymous,
July 14, 2011 1:44 AM

Antisemitism in Education

In Canadian Society there are many Poor & Rich Multycultural People with different Religious Beliefs..Pity, therefor that Racist Illequipped teachers pollute this Canadian atmosphere...Shame on those who tollerate such scum..

(27)
Norman Gardner,
July 14, 2011 1:39 AM

Insulted and indignant

I made inquiries into this incident when it first came to my attention. It was ultimately left for Hillel to deal with it and according to the information I received one of the Jewish students acknowledged that Bhuyans apologized to the class . As far as I am concerned she should never have had her contract renewed and I do not put much faith in her apology. Jews do donate above their proportion in population to the University and the fund raisers are and should be concerned about the racist policies of some of the staff and the attitudes of some students.

(26)
ll,
July 13, 2011 8:10 PM

i would have hoped things would have changed in 40 years

i am sad to read about this i would have hoped things would have changed in 40 years.....i attended graduate school in near eastern studies almost 40 years ago at u of toronto.......coming from an israeli university it was made very clear to me that they would not accept any of the jewish scholarship i had studied......i also had a late class on fridays and had to leave the class an hour early to make it home for shabbos but the professor was not at all cooperative and in fact threatened to fail me if i left early........the administration did not help and i ended up transfering to a different grad school the next year........i am sorry that things have not really changed that much

(25)
Sonia,
July 13, 2011 8:17 AM

Could it be HaShem is recalling us from among the nations?

Something is coming into place
My question what is the appropriate response for the Jewish people? From the observant to the distanced among us - we are one nation! Diversity, a political term employed by ideologues to change the world into one where men have declared themselves Gods. Working to achieve State control through tactics oppressors of humankind always use in their quest for power of any given population. Contradicting, oppositing all by which Judaism is defined.
Our people in contract with God follow the path, our soul's map provided for in the Torah, our covenant with HaShem is not to be so easily dismissed.
The squeeze so to speak is on and our choice will become clearer and clearer - the one ideologically driven or the world under one God, its creator.
You might ask are we are on the precipice of our redemption? And if so - how do you count its signs!

(24)
Anonymous,
July 13, 2011 3:11 AM

Future Social Workers?

These are the future social workers? I sometimes wonders why some people go into this profession if they don't have an open mind to anything. Why would you go into such a field where you have to be dealing with different types of people... if you don't want to be around them.

(23)
Joe Koenig,
July 13, 2011 1:44 AM

This teachers is, I think, actually teaching her students that it is right to hate Jews. Anything else she talks about will fall by the wayside

The report on this incident suggests that if there is one thing Bhuyans actually manages to teach her students it is that hatered/fear of Jews is the appropriate, natural response to those filthy rich, disturbing people, more alian than any new immigrant. If her students are newcomers to Canada, they will now know that expressing hatred/fear of Jews is an excellent way to fit in.
Joe

(22)
Anonymous,
July 13, 2011 12:49 AM

I love this city, and now I feel shame for what is has been allowed to happen. The professor should be fired. Are these racialized students uncomfortable with all rich people or only Jews?

(21)
Ian,
July 12, 2011 7:58 AM

The Reaction

Imagine if this anti Semitic professor had said these hateful things about Muslims , she would be dead !!!! Jews wake up stop being passive it does not gain us respect for some people violence is the only way !!!

(20)
Anna,
July 12, 2011 5:47 AM

QED

The donors are rich Jews ? Well, er, aren't donors usually rich ? If I see a name on a plaque, I assume that, anyway. QED. If the lecturer in question has such poor logic skills, I wonder what she's doing there.

(19)
Anonymous,
July 12, 2011 4:33 AM

Shocked, but need to know

Ms Professor Bhuyan does not belong ANYWHERE NEAR a University, not even a primary school. She is NOT a reflection of what Education is meant to foster, and develop. Her Behaviour is consistent with the WORST of racists, and her "encouraging" of an anti-semitic ethic as being "normalized<" beyond deplorable, is OUTRAGEUOS. There should be a campaign for students of ALL kinds of Minorities to petition to have her REMOVED, asap; it is well known, when one actively seeks to slander, and defame one group will then be perpetrated against everyone else deemed to be "objectionable." Well I OBJECT to this complete air-head, having anything to do with higher education.
I just know that "minorities" will be better served by not having to deal with this very foolish, bizarre person...does she KNOW where she is, the kind of SOCIETY Canada insists on developing???
Regretfully, I have ran into another notable such "educator" in recent memory, in one of my classes. Strangely, all the miscreants in her "examples,' were named Marvin, Jacob, Isaac etc.. one gets tired after a while of looking at this hate-filled person, overtly exercising her "power" by pointing out Jews "en-masse," in a systematic fashion. I could say a LOT more about HER people, However, Jewish ideals inhabit me, and so I simply refused to take her class, anymore. These individuals are foolishly mislead in thinking this can go on with impunity, there Is the law.

(18)
Dvirah,
July 11, 2011 3:36 PM

Hiding in the Herd

This reminds me of the reaction of one school prinicpal to complaints about violent children in his school abusing all those who did not join a particular gang (or were purposely excluded). Although the identity of the ringleader was known, the principal refused to deal directly with that pupil but gave lecture after lecture on non-violence to the assemble school children. The ringleader, feeling himself secure in the herd, continued his activities and was not apprehended until a first-grader had been knifed with a sissors by one of her classmates who was a gang member.
Had the prinicpal but held the spotlight on the ringleader by calling him into the office (with or without his parents) to let him know that his activites were being observed, it might have caused him to "cool" his activities and prevented the final tragic act of violence.
Here, too, if the ringleaders are not spotlighted by the University management they will feel safe and even more - protected; and will not only continue but escalate their anti-semitic activities.

(17)
mark,
July 11, 2011 12:39 PM

Toot Your Horn Discreetly

sure you're proud to give. G-d knows you did it. Let that be the end of it. Toot your endowment horn discreetly. Let the antisemites find another group to vilify and then be found out for what they are. We know the good you have done. It is it's own reward without a public announcement. G-d knows!.amen

(16)
Andy,
July 11, 2011 10:51 AM

So what lesson does one take from this

"Bhuyan then said the donor plaques at the university were all from rich Jews, which she felt proved her point."
What is a lesson here.Seems to me it could be those blessed with material success would be well advised to donate primarily to Jewish orgs.If one is partial to a secular Jewish org I can suggest The Weizmann Institute as a great choice, or if an org promoting Torah study would be considered many yeshivas and outreach orgs like Aish seem to me good choices for major contributions.

Anonymous,
July 12, 2011 5:08 AM

UNFIT

This Professor is simply unfit for teaching at the university, nor anywhere else for that matter.

(15)
Dave,
July 11, 2011 6:08 AM

She must resign....

Dr. Bhuyan must be removed from her post. She is promoting hatred and racism among her students. This must not be permitted, no matter whom it comes from. Anti-semitism has returned to academia, and it needs to be stopped.

(14)
Dr. Joe,
July 11, 2011 6:00 AM

Anti-semitism, then and now.

In 1948 I entered medical school at the University of Toronto. There was a quota limiting admission of Jews. Perhaps, but not entirely understandable, as the number of Jewish students admitted would quickly overwhelm the number of available slots. Anti-semitism was quite overt and blatant. The leading sholar, standing first in class for each of the six years of medical school at U of T, chose Obstetrics and Gynecology as his preferred specialty. He was told quite openly by the Chairman of the Department that, as he was Jewish, he could not be accepted.
On graduation from U of T medical school in 1954, it was clear my future lay elsewhere. I promptly emigrated to the United States and had a distinguished and highly successful career as an orthopaedic surgeon. In addition to a busy private practice, I became a Professor at UCLA and a few years later with the opening of a new medical school at UC Irvine, was also appointed a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery there.
Looking back now on my career of 50 years, it was clear I made a correct choice in leaving Canada.
Anti-semitism still prevails. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose!

(13)
Chavy,
July 11, 2011 5:25 AM

the left has redefined racism

Nowadays, since the left has become anti-Israel and anti-semitic, anti semitism is not considered racist anymore. The left has proclaimed that Zionism is racism, but, to them, anti semitism isn't racism.

(12)
Anonymous,
July 11, 2011 12:34 AM

An idea

So while Jews are proud at seeing Jewish names of benefactors on academic, health and research institutions etc., sadly "others" don't see achievement and generosity, but rather the bogeyman "rich Jew". How about publishing a public paper at the U of T about the history of it's Jewish benefactors- where they came from, the challenges they faced, the honor of their achievements and the benefit to all of same. Perhaps a flicker of light will illuminate in Prof. Bhuyan's misguided head. Shame on U of T. Counter-attack with facts.

(11)
zg,
July 10, 2011 9:12 PM

racists at UOT

We have enough racists to deal with in Canada as is. Let's send this one back to where she came from. Her prejudices and Social Work? Disgusting!!!

(10)
Anonymous,
July 10, 2011 6:16 PM

Anti-Semitism is alive and well

This article demonstrates that anti-Semitism is alive and well and thriving in the Dept. of Social Work at U of T. This professor should be disciplined -not for discussing the issue - but for promoting anti-Semitism in a classroom situation. Also, these students need to reexamine their priorities; if they want a graduate education, they should be chomping at the bit to see an institution such as Baycrest and all that it represents in terms of state-of-the-art care and much-lauded research. Clearly, these students are immature and not deserving of degrees in social work, a field in which they may be called upon to work with people of any and all racial, ethnic, and financial backgrounds.
Here's an idea:
Add a mandatory course to the curriculum on tolerance. Introduce something akin to the Hippocratic Oath to the practice of social work - e.g., ...do no harm, ...shall neither harbor nor demonstrate intolerance to other peoples of the world....etc.
My vote is that only after passing such a course and taking such an oath, and signing it in writing, should students be allowed to advance to higher level coursework in social work.
I feel sorry for the future clients of these students --- they will surely suffer from the incompetence and racial/ethnic bias that pervades these impostor social workers.

(9)
Aoirthoir An Broc,
July 10, 2011 5:10 PM

What does racialized mean?

"Racialized" eh? "Marginalized" eh? Is this code for saying the students that were practicing antisemitism weren't white? If so, why not just come out and say it?
And sorry professor, just because of claims (real or imagined) of racism that your students have been through, does not mean they have the right to start marginalizing one of the most marginalized persons in history.

(8)
Marie H,
July 10, 2011 5:09 PM

Not fit to teach

I do not have a degree in Social Work, but it seems to be a common sense "no brainer" that anyone who is racist is not fit to teach. I've always believed that children LEARN what they LIVE. The LAST thing this world needs is a teacher perpetuating hate. Some of us who inhabit this planet are ugly from the inside out. Bhuyan is obviously one of them and should hand in their resignation with a public apology.

(7)
Anonymous,
July 10, 2011 4:48 PM

Its not Unusual unfortunately

As a social worker for many years, I have seen in the course of my training, quite a few incidents of blatent expressions of anti-semetism among clergy, and many other "helping"professionals. Unfortunately anti-semetism seems to be deeply embedded in the hearts of many non-Jews (and unfortunately self hatred embedded in the hearts of too many Jews). This is not going to change. Thinking that it is subject to education is big mistake.Perhaps thinking about aliyah would be more prudent.

(6)
Otis R. Needleman,
July 10, 2011 4:29 PM

Email Bhuyan at...

r.bhuyan@utoronto.ca

(5)
Otis R. Needleman,
July 10, 2011 4:27 PM

If you'd like to call Bhuyan..

Her office number is (416) 946-5085, from her school page.

(4)
Otis R. Needleman,
July 10, 2011 4:23 PM

Completely unacceptable.

Bhuyan needs to go. Why does she hate the Jews? And so what if rich Jews donated to the university? I think that's fantastic. Jews have always valued education, and as they have succeeded in their lives many have given back. Perhaps Bhuyan is jealous that her own ethnic group may not have been as successful, by comparison. Keep fighting. Don't let the Bhuyans of this world win, or even think they are winning!

(3)
Bruno Gideon,
July 10, 2011 4:04 PM

Histors repeats itself.

That is exactly how it started in1933 and the common denominator is that NO ONE DARES TO SPEAK UP!

(2)
Tonkery,
July 10, 2011 2:12 PM

Sahame on you Bhuyan! you should be fired from Universty. You're a racist & not right to teach!
Any teachers openly anti Jews is unproer to teach!
He must be jelous with the rich Jews.
It's shame what he did!

(1)
Anonymous,
July 10, 2011 8:30 AM

NOT SURPRISED AT ALL.....

Speaking as an African-American [Social Work major], this kind of dialogue is long- LONG overdue. The sensitivities of students are being 'chewed up', but some of these professors and they need to be held accountable. My advisor/professor was and Italian, from Buffalo who would commonly discuss the differences in personality 'traits' between ' blue-gum and black gum Niggers". What this did, was have the white students looking at the gumline of Black students- as if to discipher, the content of our character. This man, I might add was also the Head of the Sociology Dept. There were no Black instructors in Social Work at the time. No one to turn to. Folks- do not let thtis happen , and please dont let it continue, because believe me- the non-Jewish students will absorb the professor's attitude outside of class. Put a stop to this- NOW!

Michigan2,
July 10, 2011 3:23 PM

I agree with your comments-fully!

An institution of higher learning needs to have instructors, professor or assist professors to communicate with their students without showing racism or anti-semitism. Bhuyan should have been not rewarded with a new contract but thrown out of the school and then black listed. Education cost too much without having incompetent instructors giving the students bad vibes. We do not need this.

I just got married and have an important question: Can we eat rice on Passover? My wife grew up eating it, and I did not. Is this just a matter of family tradition?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

The Torah instructs a Jew not to eat (or even possess) chametz all seven days of Passover (Exodus 13:3). "Chametz" is defined as any of the five grains (wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) that came into contact with water for more than 18 minutes. Chametz is a serious Torah prohibition, and for that reason we take extra protective measures on Passover to prevent any mistakes.

Hence the category of food called "kitniyot" (sometimes referred to generically as "legumes"). This includes rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Even though kitniyot cannot technically become chametz, Ashkenazi Jews do not eat them on Passover. Why?

Products of kitniyot often appear like chametz products. For example, it can be hard to distinguish between rice flour (kitniyot) and wheat flour (chametz). Also, chametz grains may become inadvertently mixed together with kitniyot. Therefore, to prevent confusion, all kitniyot were prohibited.

In Jewish law, there is one important distinction between chametz and kitniyot. During Passover, it is forbidden to even have chametz in one's possession (hence the custom of "selling chametz"). Whereas it is permitted to own kitniyot during Passover and even to use it - not for eating - but for things like baby powder which contains cornstarch. Similarly, someone who is sick is allowed to take medicine containing kitniyot.

What about derivatives of kitniyot - e.g. corn oil, peanut oil, etc? This is a difference of opinion. Many will use kitniyot-based oils on Passover, while others are strict and only use olive or walnut oil.

Finally, there is one product called "quinoa" (pronounced "ken-wah" or "kin-o-ah") that is permitted on Passover even for Ashkenazim. Although it resembles a grain, it is technically a grass, and was never included in the prohibition against kitniyot. It is prepared like rice and has a very high protein content. (It's excellent in "cholent" stew!) In the United States and elsewhere, mainstream kosher supervision agencies certify it "Kosher for Passover" -- look for the label.

Interestingly, the Sefardi Jewish community does not have a prohibition against kitniyot. This creates the strange situation, for example, where one family could be eating rice on Passover - when their neighbors will not. So am I going to guess here that you are Ashkenazi and your wife is Sefardi. Am I right?

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (1194-1270), known as Nachmanides, and by the acronym of his name, Ramban. Born in Spain, he was a physician by trade, but was best-known for authoring brilliant commentaries on the Bible, Talmud, and philosophy. In 1263, King James of Spain authorized a disputation (religious debate) between Nachmanides and a Jewish convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani. Nachmanides reluctantly agreed to take part, only after being assured by the king that he would have full freedom of expression. Nachmanides won the debate, which earned the king's respect and a prize of 300 gold coins. But this incensed the Church: Nachmanides was charged with blasphemy and he was forced to flee Spain. So at age 72, Nachmanides moved to Jerusalem. He was struck by the desolation in the Holy City -- there were so few Jews that he could not even find a minyan to pray. Nachmanides immediately set about rebuilding the Jewish community. The Ramban Synagogue stands today in Jerusalem's Old City, a living testimony to his efforts.

It's easy to be intimidated by mean people. See through their mask. Underneath is an insecure and unhappy person. They are alienated from others because they are alienated from themselves.

Have compassion for them. Not pity, not condemning, not fear, but compassion. Feel for their suffering. Identify with their core humanity. You might be able to influence them for the good. You might not. Either way your compassion frees you from their destructiveness. And if you would like to help them change, compassion gives you a chance to succeed.

It is the nature of a person to be influenced by his fellows and comrades (Rambam, Hil. De'os 6:1).

We can never escape the influence of our environment. Our life-style impacts upon us and, as if by osmosis, penetrates our skin and becomes part of us.

Our environment today is thoroughly computerized. Computer intelligence is no longer a science-fiction fantasy, but an everyday occurrence. Some computers can even carry out complete interviews. The computer asks questions, receives answers, interprets these answers, and uses its newly acquired information to ask new questions.

Still, while computers may be able to think, they cannot feel. The uniqueness of human beings is therefore no longer in their intellect, but in their emotions.

We must be extremely careful not to allow ourselves to become human computers that are devoid of feelings. Our culture is in danger of losing this essential aspect of humanity, remaining only with intellect. Because we communicate so much with unfeeling computers, we are in danger of becoming disconnected from our own feelings and oblivious to the feelings of others.

As we check in at our jobs, and the computer on our desk greets us with, "Good morning, Mr. Smith. Today is Wednesday, and here is the agenda for today," let us remember that this machine may indeed be brilliant, but it cannot laugh or cry. It cannot be happy if we succeed, or sad if we fail.

Today I shall...

try to remain a human being in every way - by keeping in touch with my own feelings and being sensitive to the feelings of others.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...